Dozens Turn Out to Pray For Lakeland, Its Police at Vigil

Thursday

Jul 25, 2013 at 11:29 AMJul 26, 2013 at 12:21 AM

About 60 people came out Thursday to join pastors in prayer for the city of Lakeland and its troubled police department. Residents, including city officials and politicians, stood in a circle and bowed their heads.

By JOHN CHAMBLISSTHE LEDGER

LAKELAND | One pastor cautioned against the community forming a "mob mentality" in reaction to ongoing problems at City Hall.A second prayed for the families impacted by fallout from a wide-reaching sex scandal at the Lakeland Police Department.All four prayed for city leaders.About 60 people came out Thursday to join pastors in prayer for the city of Lakeland and its troubled police department.Residents, including city officials and politicians, stood in a circle and bowed their heads inside Arts on the Park at 115 N. Kentucky Ave. The 7:30 a.m. prayer vigil was moved inside the vacant building because of rain.David McEntire, a pastor at First United Methodist Church, said the community has been devastated, there is a loss of confidence and accusations of betrayal.But he cautioned people to avoid a mob mentality that "demands everyone be thrown out of office.""We know better than that," McEntire said. "Help us to avoid the claim that heads will roll because they should have known about it."McEntire voiced support for city leaders. "Don't blame those who can lead us in this time," he said.The prayer vigil occurred a month after sexual misconduct allegations were made public in a State Attorney's Office report that alleged dozens of consensual and multiple forced sexual encounters involving more than 20 LPD officers and city workers. LPD has launched its own investigation, which city officials have estimated will take several more weeks to complete.Also speaking at the prayer meeting were Pastor Edgar Pickett III of Word Alive Ministries, the Rev. Richard Richardson of New Bethel AME Church and Executive Pastor Steven Davis of First Baptist Church at the Mall.The prayer vigil was organized by City Commissioner Phillip Walker. Walker, Lakeland Mayor Gow Fields, Commissioner Howard Wiggs, Police Chief Lisa Womack and City Manager Doug Thomas were at the prayer meeting.Pickett asked for God to bring wisdom to commissioners and the mayor. "Lead us into greener pastures," he said. "We pray you will guide us."Pickett mentioned the pain that families from the scandal have endured."Those families who are broken and hurting, we pray for the healing of them," he said. Before the prayers started, Dale Terrell of Lakeland said he came to support Womack and the city."Prayer always changes things in a great way," he said. Karen Wade of Lakeland said afterward that the prayer vigil was uplifting. She said she went to Fields' office 10 days ago to ask him what she could to do to help. Fields told her that Walker was organizing a prayer meeting.Wade said she's confident the city will see brighter days."We need radical surgery here and need to ask hard questions, but it will make us better," she said.

[ John Chambliss can be reached at john.chambliss@theledger.com or 863-802-7588. ]